Beef : Spanish Rice

• 4 slices bacon, diced
  
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  
• 1 small onion, chopped
  
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
  
• 1/2 pound ground beef
  
• 1 cup canned stewed tomatoes
  
• 1 cup long-grain rice
  
• 1 cup water
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  

Cook bacon until crisp in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. With a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; set aside. Add green pepper, onion, and garlic to drippings remaining in skillet; cook over medium heat until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl.

In the same skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until well browned on all sides, stirring frequently. Add tomatoes, rice, water, TABASCO^® Sauce, salt, and green pepper mixture. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring occasionally. To serve, top with crumbled bacon.

Makes 4 servings.